VLKOLÍNEC

Preserved site of folk architecture Vlkolinec is a part of Ruzomberok town and is located at the foot of Velka Fatra. Vlkolinec represents a type of medieval village site of wooden architecture in montane and submontane area. There is an undisturbed built-up area of cottages and chalets in landscape area made by narrow stripes of fields and pastures protected by Sidorov massif from the North. The first written notes of the village come back to 1376 when it arose as a village of woodcutters and coalmen.

At the end of the 18th century the village had 41 houses and 280 inhabitants; the number of inhabitants grew up to the 2WW when some part of house burnt out. About 45 objects of Vlkolinec folk architecture have survived till today. Apart from the wooden cottages there is a wooden belfry from 1770 and a museum Peasant's House with exposition of original housing and an information centre. Vlkolinec is the only Slovak village, which has not been disturbed by new buildings and is still located on its original site.

Vlkolínec lies at the southern base of Sidorovo peak, at an elevation of 718m above sea level. The first written reference to this village was in 1376. More than 40 original, inhabited “gingerbread” houses are an illustration of a one-time Slovak mountain village. There is also a museum piece in the village – Roľnícky dom (Peasant House), with an exhibit of original, native housing and an information center. The dominant feature of this village is the wooden, rustic bell tower dating back to 1770. The village emblem was a heraldic rose with a coniferous tree in grassland.